Nearly 18 million people in war-torn Sudan, or approximately 40 percent of the country's population, are currently facing severe food insecurity, and the unprecedented famine may sweep across the entire country without urgent intervention, said a senior official from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently in Port Sudan.
The conflict in Sudan has been ongoing for over a year, with 11 out of the country's 18 states engulfed in warfare. Agricultural infrastructure has been severely damaged, leading to a significant reduction in arable land.
In addition, a large number of people have been displaced, and agricultural inputs such as seeds and pesticides have seen substantial price increases. As a result, agricultural production has been severely affected.
According to data from the FAO, Sudan's grain production, including wheat, decreased by 46 percent compared to the previous year of 2023. This has led to a 60 percent increase in overall food prices in the country last year, with further increases of 50 to 100 percent expected this year.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) by the United Nations, nearly 18 million people in Sudan are currently facing severe food insecurity, with approximately 5 million people in even more dire food emergency conditions, just one step away from famine.
Less than 5 percent of the population nationwide have access to a full meal every day. A United Nations report has stated that Sudan is facing the world's largest hunger crisis.
The FAO said that in the face of such a severe crisis, providing food and financial assistance alone to Sudan is not enough to compensate for the shortfall in local food production. It is also necessary to implement various agricultural intervention measures, such as providing high-quality seeds to help local farmers resume production and offering vaccine support for livestock survival. These measures are essential to help Sudan overcome this large-scale humanitarian crisis.
"We, as FAO, helped more than 5 million food insecure Sudanese across 15 states in 2023. This was through provision of different types of improved seeds, both for the summer and the winter season, supports a livestock," said Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience.
Currently, humanitarian aid agencies' operations in Sudan are still facing many challenges, including funding shortages and humanitarian access difficulties. The FAO is calling on the international community to provide Sudan with more attention and support.
"In terms of funding to be able to support the more than 10 million people who we are targeting in terms of support in 2024. We, as FAO, need more than 100 million U.S. dollars. Our budget is the request for 104 million U.S. dollars to do that work. So far we are funded at less than 10 percent," said the FAO official.
Since the armed conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, regional and international powers have made mediation efforts to convince the warring parties to agree on a political path to ending the conflict. Yet, no significant success has been achieved.
War-torn Sudan facing food crisis, needs urgent aid: FAO official
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
